"Put a Little Love in Your Heart" is a song originally performed in 1969 by Jackie DeShannon, who composed it with her brother Randy Myers and Jimmy Holiday. In the U.S., it was DeShannon's highest-charting hit, reaching number 4 on the Hot 100 in August 1969 and number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In late 1969, the song reached number 1 on South Africa's hit parade. The song rivalled the success of her signature song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love".
In 1988, Annie Lennox and Al Green released a cover version of "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" which reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Charts
Chart (1969) Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report15 Canada RPM Top Singles12Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)2 South African Singles Chart1 US Billboard Hot 1004 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)2
Annie Lennox and Al Green version
In 1988, Annie Lennox and Al Green recorded a version that was released as the ending theme song to the 1988 film Scrooged. The song reached number 9 in the US on the Hot 100 in January 1989, and climbed all the way to number 2 on both the US Adult Contemporary and Canadian Singles charts, as well as becoming a top 40 hit in several countries worldwide, including number 28 in the UK for the festive season of 1988–1989. Although credited to Lennox, the song was produced by her Eurythmics partner David A. Stewart. The b-side "A Great Big Piece of Love" is an experimental track by Eurythmics, credited under the alias 'The Spheres of Celestial Influence'.
The video was directed by Sophie Muller.
Personnel Annie Lennox – vocals Al Green – vocals David A. Stewart (uncredited) – background vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1988–89)PeakpositionAustralian Singles Chart6Austrian Singles Chart4Canadian Singles Chart2German Singles Chart20Irish Singles Chart30Italy Airplay (Music & Media)2New Zealand Singles Chart7UK Singles Chart28US Billboard Hot 1009
Year-end charts Chart (1989)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)51
Other well-known versions Susan Raye, on her debut 1969 album, One Night Stand. It was released as a single and peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The Dave Clark Five, in 1969. Issued as a single in the UK, it spent four weeks in the top 75, reaching number 31.British Hit Singles, 12th edition, Guinness At the end of Richard Donner's film Scrooged (1988), Bill Murray breaks the fourth wall to lead a sing-along of the Annie Lennox and Al Green version of the song.
References
External links Put A Little Love In Your Heart lyrics at Dolly Parton On-Line